Cultivar is a company with a truly international portfolio. With their headquarters in Barcelona, where it all began in 1974, they have branched out and now have points of sale and warehouses also in Madrid, Seville and Majorca, as well as new offices opening in 2-3 weeks in Bilbao. From these points they distribute fruits and vegetables across the Iberian peninsula, though most of the produce is produced elsewhere. Sandra Sitjar, who is responsible for marketing at the company, says that around 30% of the company's produce is grown nationally, whereas the remainder is imported.
"We import from all over the world," Sandra says. "Perú, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Colombia in Latin America, as well as Canada, Europe, South Africa and Africa in general, Australia, New Zealand, China, Malaysia..." As may be expected with such a range of international contacts, Cultivar have a very wide range of product lines and are, therefore, able to retain a busy level of activity throughout the season. Sandra explains, "As soon as one season finishes we commence with another, so we are mostly busy all the time. There are periods which are busier than others, Christmas, for example is very busy. On the other hand January and February are often quiet times, but in general, we do not know seasonal work."
The company's import activity ensures such a diverse product range is covered throughout the seasons. "We have over 400 lines," Sandra says. "Just as an example, our top 10 items, in terms of volume are kiwi, pineapple, melons, grapes, apples, mangoes, avocados, tomatoes, lettuce and leeks, but we also do such things as papaya, berries and baby vegetables and many more."
Having such a wide product range carries a number of benefits, not least of which is security, allowing the company to spread the level of risk its operations entail.
"The advantage we have of dealing with so many products is that whenever there is a problem with one of them the others can compensate. Of course, there are always ups and downs depending on the season, but with such a wide product range any impact is is softened, which enables us to keep growing as a company."
The company is also cushioned, to a certain extent, from the impact of the financial crisis that is affecting certain parts of Europe, Spain included, at the time of writing."
"Obviously we are affected, but we continue to grow," Sandra says. "Fortunately we are trading in products that are a necessity for people, so the effects are not as big for us as they are, for example for a company trading in luxury items."
For more information:
Sandra Sitjar
Cultivar
[email protected]
www.cultivar.net